Libya’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Mohamed Al-Hwaij, said Libya’s position on the Palestinian cause remains “clear and unwavering,” while confirming that non-Libyan and non-Egyptian nationals will not be allowed to cross the Libya-Egypt land border.
Speaking to Al-Masar TV, Al-Hwaij said the Libyan Red Crescent is the official body authorised to coordinate with the “Soumoud Convoy” in cooperation with the Egyptian Red Crescent.
He explained that the Libyan Foreign Ministry is handling the matter from the perspective of regulating relations between states and controlling the movement of individuals and goods according to existing laws and border regulations between Libya and neighbouring countries.
Al-Hwaij said the Libyan government wanted to clarify the legal and organisational rules governing movement through land crossings, stressing that the entry of individuals holding nationalities other than Libyan or Egyptian through the shared land border is “absolutely impossible.”
At the same time, he confirmed Libya’s willingness to receive humanitarian and food aid intended for the Palestinian people, saying Palestinians continue to face injustice, oppression, starvation, and intimidation amid the ongoing crisis in Gaza.
The foreign minister described Libya’s support for Palestine as one of the country’s core foreign policy principles and part of the government’s official programme.
Al-Hwaij added that the Libyan government has issued several decisions and laws supporting the Palestinian cause. He also said the Libyan National Army’s General Command had previously organised multiple aid convoys for Palestinians.
He further stated that the Libyan House of Representatives is “the only legislative institution in the world” that has criminalised normalisation with Israel.
The minister criticised the participation of individuals from countries maintaining diplomatic relations with Israel in the convoy initiative. He argued that such activists should instead pressure their own governments and political parties to end ties with Israel rather than attempting to “embarrass Libya or Egypt.”
Al-Hwaij insisted that Libya would not accept any questioning of its commitment to Palestine, describing the issue as deeply rooted in the conscience of the Libyan people and in the country’s foreign policy foundations.
He said anyone wishing to deliver aid can hand it over to the Libyan Red Crescent at the convoy’s location, after which coordination would continue with the Egyptian Red Crescent.
The minister reiterated that land crossings remain closed to non-Libyan and non-Egyptian individuals. He explained that anyone wishing to enter Egypt must obtain an official visa through their own country and travel via Egyptian airports.
Responding to questions about authorities in western Libya allowing convoys to pass, Al-Hwaij said the government he represents is “not the authority of western Libya,” adding that the government appointed by the Libyan House of Representatives represents, in his words, “the will of the Libyan people.”
He also stressed that the Libyan government has not established relations with Israel and has not participated in meetings with Israeli officials.
According to Al-Hwaij, Libya’s position toward Israel is fixed and clear, and the government has no “suspicious relations” or cooperation with Israel in any form.
The foreign minister added that Libya supports all forms of solidarity with the Palestinian people because the Palestinian issue is “not only the cause of Palestinians, but the cause of free people around the world.”
He said humanitarian aid could have been coordinated through other channels, including ships, aircraft, or official arrangements through international airports.
Al-Hwaij also accused certain political and Islamist groups of attempting to exploit the issue for internal agendas, suggesting that some parties are trying to export their domestic political problems abroad.
He added that the Libyan government had held official meetings with several foreign consulates to explain Libya’s position on the matter, noting that the discussions were consistent with the official statement issued by the Foreign Ministry.
In closing, Al-Hwaij renewed Libya’s readiness to receive humanitarian, medical, and food aid through the Libyan Red Crescent at the convoy site, with coordination continuing alongside the Egyptian Red Crescent under approved legal procedures.
